Humidifier



Dec. 24, 3929. P. LA RoUcHE HUMIDIFIER Filed Oct. 8. 1928 bu/autor aalwl Passed nec. 24, 1929 Pm LA PATENT OFFICE A BOUCHE, F BIDDEFQRD,

HUIDJJ'IEB Application med October 8, 1828. Serial l'o. 811,820.

My invention relates to carburation and more particularly to the humidifying of the gas for internal combustion engines. The advantages of a small amount of water vapor addedI to the gasiiied fuel have been lon known and have been Well demonstrate While used to some extent, most automobile engines are operated without such a system. This has been,

.m First, most of the proposed installations have been rather expensive, and are not wholly satisfactory in meeting the varied conditions of motor operation. @ne cause of trouble has been lack of proper control of the water vapor with resultant extremes of too much or too little. This diculty I have solved by the use of a system, automatic in character and capable of embodiment in apparatus of simple and inexpensive nature.

Such system and an illustrative apparatus, I will now disclose, the latter appearing in the accompanying drawings in structurally satisfactory form and operating in accordance with my invention. In the drawings:

' Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic indication of such an installation.

Fig. 2 a view of my tank with cover removed.

Fig. 3 a central section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. Ll another section at right angles thereto In Fig. l, I have indicated at D a conven- .35' tional dash and at E an internal combustion engine fed through a manifold M from a carburetor C.

rllhe humiditying chamber H may be a simple metal casing having a tight cover H. 4o Through it passes a stem S shouldered and gasketed as at s and with a connection of any desiredlsort at S. At its end S2, it is threaded and fitted with a nut N, gasketed to make a tight joint. The chamber is provided With any convenient dash bracket as B.

The Astem S Within the chamber H is provided vvithrather small perforations so that when connected as by a line L to the manifold M, there is a suction Within the tutu-zV S pro- 5e portionate to the fuel demands of the engine.

I believe, for two reasons.v

The intake end of the line L is open to permit air to be drawn into the line by the suction of the en 'ne. The admission of air into the' line may gele controlled by a manually operable valve V threaded into the open end of the line and disposed for convenient operation by the driver.

It has been proposed to draw moisture from tanks or through absorbent members that I believe that my invention is distinctly novel in its following aspects. v

My invention contemplates the extension of the waterby dispersion throughout an absorbent medium in the closed chamber H. A convenient and available moss well adapted to this purpose is the Sphagmwn crumb# folta/m.. The great advantages of such a medium and of this species in particular is that While holding the water in an extended state, it yields in mass readily to any reduction in pressure in the chamber H. It is tobe noted that the stem S is shrouded in the moss and as soon as there is suction set up in the line L from the intake M, the Water, and even the moss itself, is drawn against the stem S yielding a filml of 'moisture which is broken up and taken in throu h the perforation P in the stem S. It will, therefore, be seen that my moistening system is at considerable variance from those that bubble air through a body of Water or even those drawing air through a pad or sponge.

My chamber H is a closed chamber. There may be some air leakage but it operates by suction to squeeze or extract from the'absorbent body just that small amount of moisture at the rate needed by the engine intake.

My apparatus is obviously simple and entirely automatic. The actual water demand is curiously low, indicating to my mind that the humidii'ication needed is 'ar less than heretofore provided for. While I have specified my moss as preferable for several novel reasons, my device may be operated by a sponge or other absorbent body. The shape of my container chamber may be varied and its parts elaborated. The form shown, however, has obvious commercial advantages to fill a popular demand.

i What I therefore claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is'."

l. A humidifier for the intake of an 1n- Ltermal combustion engine, comprising a oasing, a bodyof moss in said casing adapted to maintain a body of waterin extended state therein, and a Vapor pipe passing through said casing and the moss therein, and conp necting at one end with the intake of the engine, the opposite end of said pipe being open to the atmosphere externally of said casing and said pipe within the easing having an opening therein through which moisture from said moss may be drawn into the pipe by the suction of the engine whereby to humidiy the air passing through said pipe. Q. A humidiier for the intake of an internal combustion engine, comprising a easy. 1ng, a water-saturated material 1n said casing adapted to maintain a body of water in extended state therein, and a vapor pipe passling through said casing and the material therein, and connecting at one end with the intake of the engine, the opposite end of said pipe being open to the atmosphere externally o said casing and said pipe within the casing having a series of perforations therein Y, through which moisture from said material may be drawn into the pipe by the suction of the engine whereby to humidify the air passing through said pipea In testlmony whereof I ax my signature.v i

PIERRE LA BOUCHE. 

